Flashlight oil tester



July 17 1951 J. w. SHERRILL. ETAL 2,561,074

FLASHLIGHT OIL TESTER Filed Aug. 27, 1947 ATT n RNJaYs Patented July 17, V1951 UNITED sTArEfs PATENT vo.1l=FlcE James Sherrill, Belmont,.and.-Leon G. Alexander, Steel Creek,'.N. C.fassign0rs -to WixAc- .cessonies-.Corporatiom Gastonia, .N. .0., acorpo- .ration ofNorth .Carolina Application August`27, lli-lgseria'lNm 770,776

l l Theinvention lrelates to 'a llashlight 'for testing and comparingifluids isuch Ias oil vand the like vand provides 'an illuminatedzuidtesting means vfor visually inspecting oil and like fluids for viscosity, fluidityand pollution.

' /lnthe operation-olintern'al combustionengines and general lubrication of machinery, the .purity and color, uidity and'viscosity of Atheoil particularly after use `for a time, and while'it is still in 'the motor of the machine,.are of importance.

An object of the present inventionistoprovide a'simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive unit adapted to be readily substituted for the plain glass lens of a flashlight, such asa regular Boy Scout Army Type Model Flashlight, and capable of enabling a quick visual checking of the clarity of used crank case oil by service station attendants and others and-a simultaneous comparison of a sample of such used oil with clean unused oil While both the sample of used `oil and the clean unused oil are illuminated by aregular ilashlight battery bulb.

vA further object of the invention is to provide, for use with an ordinary or Vstandard flashlight, a unit Which may be easily and quickly applied to the same and which may be equipped with one or more chambers or receptacles for holding a plurality of types of oil or other liquids and which is also equipped with a plane transparent lens or window adapted to serve as a spotlight vfor use of anattendant or others at night as well vas forming a dish or receptacle for holding a sample of dirty or used oil obtained from the crank case of an internal combustion engine of an automobile or other automotive vehicle obtained from such crank case by the ordinary oil level dip stick with which such internal combustion engines are usually equipped.

It is also an object of the invention 'to .provide Aa flashlight receiving'unit forming an opaque end wall for the front or outer end of the lashlight and adapted to be lithographed with advertising matter for advertising various articles or commodities, said advertising matter being .arranged around or between or adjacent to a liquid transparent container or vcontainers for oils or other 4liquids and a plain window or lens which is used las a spotlight when the device is not employed `for testing oil or otherliquids, so thatan attendant in searching for the oil level dip stick of an engine will not accidentally come in contact with a hot portion of the same vand burn his hands.

It is also an object of the invention to enable the unit forming the subject matter of the present invention to be readily applied to an ordinary vstandard flashlight so rthat the latter may be `easily serviced by practically any service station in the country for renewal of batteries, bulbs .or yeven switch and body.

It is also an object of the invention to Yprovide 4 claims. (oies- 14) oil tester b i ,a I'transparent -unit vequipped with an .annular Icavitydivided intoone or more compartmentsv or chambers forfreception Aof'an 'oil ordifierent types :of 4.oils .or other liquids surrounding a central transparent-spotlight portion and providing an exterior wall for such spotlight portion and form- Ving -an exterior cavity 'for the 4reception of a -sample of'used crank case oil for comparison vwithA fclean vunusedoil or oils in the `chambers or .compartments while 'the -same and Ythe `central 'ilashlight portion, having the sample -of used oil,

are simultaneously .illuminated by the incandes- Icentlight bulbv of-the ashlight. \It:is alsofan'object of the Vinvention'to provide Ia'flashlight oil tester which, in testing a sample i'of used oil :from the crank case of an internal combustion'engine, will easily show theclarity of the-oilasyvellas the larger particles'ofimpurities inthefsample of dirty or used oil which has been .dropped onto the flashlight lens or -windowand afford an 4immediate comparison of said :sample with the clean unused-oil contained :in a trans- .parent 'receptacle carried by 'the oil tester and illuminated by zthe flashlight bulb simultaneously with'illumination `of-said-sample.

llith the yabovefand other objects in view, the :invention-'consists in the construction `and ,novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinfatter :'fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings Vand vpointed out in the claims hereto appended, itbeing understood that various 'changes in the yform, proportions, and m'inorde- :tails of construction, v-with'in the scope of the -claims`,.\may be resortedftowithout departing from :the nspirit or sacrificing any of the advantages .of :theginvention In the drawings: lfFig.j1 isa side elevation of a flashlight provvided'witl1:an oil testing unit constructed in accordance with .this invention;

Fig."2 is ani-enlarged sectional view :of the outer portion'of the same;

Fig.` Bis a similar View of the outer endcap and the oil testing unit;

".lig.` 4 is a 'plan view vof the oil testing unit;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged 'transverse sectional view sor 'the oil tester unit taken von the line 5 5 of Fig. A4;

Fig. 6 isa plan view of the inner disk of the oil testing unit; .Fig. '7 is an elevation of .a flashlight equipped vwith .a transparent unit -illustrating ia .mo'dication of the invention, the inner end 'cap of "the `tubular body being removed for convenience of illustration;

Fig 8 isa transverse sectional View illustrating -the manner of mounting the transparent unit. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 vinclusive .OLthefa'cCOmpanying drawing, in which thereis illustrated lone form .of Athe invention, the :oil

tester unit, which is shown applied to a flashlight of a regular Boy Scout model, comprises a tubular body 2 provided at its inner end with a removable threaded cap 3 and having a closed outer end 4 and provided at one side of the same with a circular opening 5 and having an exteriorly threaded annular flange 6 surrounding the same and threadedly engaged by an interiorly threaded inner cylindrical'portion 'I which con-v nects an outer tapered shell 8 of substantially funnel shape formation with the tubular body 2.

The standard "Boy Scout Army Type model of ashlight is of the usual construction and the tubular body contains the ordinary dry batteries (not shown) which are in electric circuit with conductors 9 and I0 contacting respectively with a metallic reiector II and with the central terminal of a flashlight bulb I2 so that when the circuit is closed by switch I3 the incandescent ashlight bulb I2 will be lighted in the usual manner.

The tubular body and the cylindrical sleeve or portion 'I may be made of plastic or any other suitable material and the tapered outer shell 8 is preferably of thin sheet metal which is provided with an outer cylindrical portion I4 stamped to form exterior screw vthreads I5 for the reception of an interiorly threaded cylindrical portion I6 of an outer cap II in which the oil tester unit is mounted whereby the unit may be readily connected with a standard flashlight and may be'easily and quickly removed therefrom.

The reflector II, which is preferably constructed of suitable metal, is of substantially vparabolic formation and has an inner side reflecting light formed by enameling, painting or otherwise coating the inner face of the reilector to increase the diffusion of light from the electric light bulb. The electric light bulb is mounted within an exteriorly threaded sleeve IB of Vany suitable insulating material threaded into an interiorly threaded socket I9 at the inner end of the reector. The electric light bulb is provided with a flange 26 which is clamped by the sleeve I8 against the wall 2i of the socket. The wall is provided with a central opening through which the electric light bulb passes and the sleeve is provided at its rear end with a flange 22 preferably milled to enable it to be readily rotated for screwing it into and out of the socket of the reflector to enable the electric light bulb to be readily changed when necessary.

The oil tester unit illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings comprises in its construction inner and outer opaque plates 23 and 24 constructed preferably of metal or the like but any other suitable material may, of course, be employed in the construction of the inner and outer opaque plates 23 and 24 which are connected by bolts 25 passing through registering perforations in the inner and outer plates but any other suitable means may, of course, be used for connecting said plates. The outer or front plate 24 is provided with three circular openings 26, 2l and 28 and the inner or rear plate is provided with similar openings 29, 30 and 3i which register with the openings 26, 21 and 28 of the outer plate.

The edges of the inner and outer plates 23 and 24, at the peripheries of said openings, diverge at their inner opposed faces to provide annular grooves 32 adapted to receive transparent containers 33 and 34 and a plain transparent disk or plate 35 which is preferably dished at the front or outer face to present an exterior concavity or de'- pression which when held in a horizontal position facing upwardly forms a dish to receive several drops 36 of used or crank case oil to enable such sample to be compared with clean unused oil contained in the receptacles 33 and 34. The plain transparent disk constitutes a combined spotlight and sample receiving area which is adapted to be illuminated simultaneously with the containers 33 and 34 by the bulb of the flashlight to permit comparison of a sample of used or crank-case oil with the clean oil and after comparison the said area maybe wiped off and conditioned for another test.

The receptacles 33 and 34 which may, of course, be employed for containing any other liquid to enable a comparison of a sample-.other than used crank case oil with the contents' of the said receptacles 33 and 34, are each -com'- posed preferably of two transparent substantially concavo convex disks 31 and 38 connected or secured together at their peripheries by suitable cement but any other suitable means may be employed for connecting the peripheries of the concavo convex disks and the latter may also be made of any other suitable transparent material such as glass.

The plain dished disk or plate is rsecured at its periphery in a groove 39 formed by the edges of the inner and outer plates at the opening 28 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. When the opaque plates are secured together by the bolts 25, the receptacles 33 and 34 and the disk or plate 35 are securely held in the grooves formed by the inner and outer plates at the peripheries of their circular openings and the detachable connection between the inner and outer plates enables the plates to be readily removed for changing the grade or type ofoil contained within them which may be done by changing the oil within the receptacles or substituting other receptacles for the same having the desired grade or types of oils.

The Boy Scout model of ashlight is adapted to be held in the hand with the oil tester unit in a horizontal position for receiving several drops of crank case oil which may be conveniently deposited on the lens by the ordinary oil level dip stick with which engines of automobiles and other automotive vehicles are usually equipped.

When the flashlight switch is operated to close the circuit of the flashlight, the containers or receptacles 33 and 34 andthe disk or plate 35 will be simultaneously illuminated so that a quick check-up and comparison of the used oil of a crank case with clean unused oil contained within'the receptacles may be made. Also, the inner plates of the containers 33 and 33 and the inner face of the lens may be frosted to diuse the light more uniformly forl an easy comparison of a sample of used or crank case oil with the clean oil contained within the receptacle. Also, the plain disk or plate 35 forming the spotlight is found convenient in locating the oil level dip stick of a motor and for various other purposes.

After a comparison of a sample of used or crank case oil with the clean unused oil contained in the receptacles 33 and 34 has been made, the disk or plate may be wiped oif and the device is in condition for another test.

The oil tester unit is secured within the flashlight head by packing ring Il of leather or any other suitable material which frictionally engages the interior of the outer cap Il and which is adapted to holdv the oil tester unit firmly in engagement with an inwardly extending annular ange dl of the outer cap il and an out-turned flange oi the reflector il which provides a supporting ledge for the oil tester unit and which is seated upon the outer shell 8 but any other suitable means may be employed for retaining the oil tester unit within the cap Il which is readily removable from the shell 3 to afford access to the oil tester unit. Bubbles :l2 and L13 are shown in the liquid contained in the receptacles 33 and 35i.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, is illustrated another form of the oil tester unit comprising a flat inner transparent disk 44 of plastic material and an outer transparent disk 45 or" plastic ma terial provided with an annular bulged or half-doughnut formation 46 forming an annular recess for the reception of clean unused oil i? or other liquid. The disks 114 and lib may be constructed of any other suitable material and they are suitably secured together by cement or other means. The central portions and G9 of the disks form a spotlight portion and the annular semi-doughnut formation surrounding the centrai portion provides a wall around the central flashlight portions and provides a recess 52 for the reception of a sample of used oil so that it may be compared with clean unused oil contained within the annular receptacle. The annular receptacle, may, if desired, be divided into several compartments so that a plurality of clean unused oils or other liquids may be contained within the tester unit. The outer portions 50 and 5l of the inner and outer disks irl and 45 are preferably opaque but this is not necessary as the illumination from the flashlight bulb will enable the desired check-up and comparison of used or crank case oil with clean oil contained in the transparent receptacle to be made.

The oil tester unit illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 is retained in the outer cap I'l of a flashlight by packing ring 130 and as the construction of the Boy Scout model flashlight illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, is the saine as that heretofore de scribed, further description and illustration thereof are deemed unnecessary.

When the operator attendant of a filling station or the like withdraws the oil level dip stick from the engine, a few drops of the oil on the dip stick is placed on the spotlight lens and the flashlight switch is closed, thereby producing a light behind the oil tester unit. In this way, it is very easy to show the clarity of the oil as well as showing up the larger particles of impurity in the dirty oil which has been dropped on the flashlight lens and an immediate comparison with the clean unused oil is obtained. As soon as the device has served its purpose, the attendant cleans off the ashlight lens or disk with any cloth or wiping rag and the device is ready for future use.

The outer plate of the flashlight unit may be advantageously employed for displaying advertising matter and the metallic outer plate of the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive lends itself admirably to lithographing. The advertising matter on the oil tester unit may be employed for stimulating the sale of various commodities.

What is claimed is:

1. An oil tester unit for a flashlight comprisn ing inner and outer opaque plates provided with a plurality of registering circular openings, the edges of the inner and outer plates at the openH ings forming annular grooves, a plurality of transparent oil receptacles mounted between said plates in said grooves and adapted to contain clean unused oil, and a plain transparent disk mounted in another of said annular grooves and dished to form an open exterior receptacle adapted when arranged in a horizontal position to receive a sample of crank oil, means for mounting the oil tester unit on a iiashlight in front of the bulb thereof whereby said disk and the transparent receptacles may be simultanen ously illuminated by the iasliliglit bulb,

2. An oil tester unit designed to be mounted on a fiashlight in front of the bulb thereof comprising inner and outer opaque plates provided with a plurality of registering circular openings, the edges of the inner and outer plates at the openings forming annular grooves, a plurality of transparent oil receptacles mounted between said plates in said grooves and adapted to contain clean unused oil, and a plain transparent disk mounted in another of said annular grooves dished to form an open exterior receptacle, whereby the same and the transparent receptacles may be simultaneously illuminated by the ashlight bulb, said disk being exteriorly dished for holding drops of used or crank case oil when said disk is arranged in a horizontal position.

3. An oil tester unit for a iiashlight consisting of an opaque wall composed of inner and outer plates having registering openings, a transparent oil receptacle mounted between said plates at a pair of registering openings thereof, and a transparent disk secured between said plates at another pair of openings thereof and adapted when held in a horizontal position to receive a sample, a few drops, of crank case oil, and means for mounting the oil tester unit on a ashlight in front of the bulb thereof whereby the plate and the receptacle containing clean unused oil may be simultaneously illuminated by the flashlight bulb.

4. An oil tester unit designed to be mounted on a flashlight in front of the bulb thereof comprising inner and outer opaque plates provided with a plurality of registering circular openings,

the edges of the inner and outer plates at the openings forming annular grooves, a plurality of transparent oil receptacles mounted between said plates in said grooves and adapted to contain clean unused oil, and a plain transparent disk mounted in another of said annular grooves and when held in a horizontal position adapted to receive a sample, a few drops, of crank case oil whereby the same and the transparent receptacles may be simultaneously illuminated by the flashlight bulb, said receptacles consisting each of a pair of disks united at their peripheries.

JAMES W. SHERRILL. LEON G. ALEXANDER..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,994,102 Holt Mar. 12, 1935 2,016,819 Meginniss Oct. 8, 1935 2,027,130 Towne Jan. 7, 1936 2,062,929 Powers Dec. 1, 1936 2,133,544 Kolb Oct. 18, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 219.710 Great Britain June 4, 1925 

